2 Samuel 2:1 - Inquire of the Lord in what you should do

“It happened after this that David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go up to any of the cities in Judah?’ And the Lord said to him, ‘Go up.’ David said, ‘Where shall I go up?’ And He said, ‘To Hebron.’”

2 Samuel 2:1

David was a man with a servant’s heart. He loved to serve the Lord. David asked the Lord for His leading even in the matter of where he should live. Listening to God is essential to walking with the Lord. Inquire of the Lord often in what you should do. Inquire of him in the little things as well as the major decisions of your life. Listen to His still small voice and He will guide you. He will impress on your heart what you should do.

Father, may we inquire of You in what we should do. May we do this in the little things as well as the major decisions of our lives. We want to walk with You. Speak to us and impress on our hearts in what we should do. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 

2 Samuel 1:26 - Godly friends

“I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me; your love for me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women.”

2 Samuel 1:26

David lamented over Saul and Jonathan after they died. He honored Saul in his lament, but he celebrated his best friend Jonathan. David knew that he owed his life to Jonathan. Jonathan’s love and companionship helped him become the man that he was. Friends play such an important role in shaping our spiritual destinies. Choose your friends wisely. Your friends make a difference in your life. Make sure your friends draw you closer to the Lord, not farther away from him.

Father, we thank You for our friends’ love and companionship. Help us to choose our friends wisely. Friends make a difference in our lives. May we make sure that we surround ourselves with people that encourage us to walk closely to You and to do Your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

1 Samuel 31:9 - God Gets His Greatest Victories from Seeming Defeat

“And they cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines, to proclaim it in the temple of their idols and among the people.”

1 Samuel 31:9

The next day the Philistines found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. They cut of Saul’s head and took his armor. They sent word throughout their land. They proclaimed it among the people and in the temple of their idols. They put Saul’s armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths. They fastened his body to the wall of Beth Shan. God sometimes allows His enemies to triumph and even to celebrate and believe that they have received victory over Him. He allows this only for a little while. God thinks of things in the long run, not the short run. God always triumphs in the end. Think of Jesus. Satan thought he was victorious when Jesus died on the cross. The people that came against Jesus thought they had won a victory as well. Jesus was dead. Three days later He arose! Jesus conquered death and the grave!

Our Father, we thank You that there is victory in Jesus. You conquered death and the grave. You can conquer anything. Although Your enemies may think they have triumphed and they celebrate because they think they have received victory over You. You allow this only for a little while. You always triumph in the end. We praise You, Lord, with all our hearts. We love You and adore You. We lift your name on high. Bless You, Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

1 Samuel 31:4 - Face life with God!

“Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it.”

1 Samuel 31:4

Saul’s son’s were killed by the Philistines. “The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers” (1 Samuel 31:3). Saul wanted his armorbearer to thrust his sword through him. Saul’s armorbearer was greatly afraid and would not do what Saul wanted him to. “Therefore Saul took a sword and fell on it” (1 Samuel 31:4). When his armorbearer realized that Saul was dead, “he also fell on his sword, and died with him. So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day” (1 Samuel 31:5-6).

Saul faced the end of his life the same way he faced life in general. He took matters into his own hands. He didn’t pray for God to intervene. He didn’t think about God and His will at all. He simply fell on the sword and took his own life. I don’t know what is going on in your life, but I pray that you put your trust in the Lord your God. He cares about You and He wants to help you. God is bigger than any situation you are facing now. If you wonder how you will face death in the future, look at look at how you are facing life now. You will face it the same way you are now. You either handle things with Him or you handle things on your own. I encourage you to face life with God. Don’t take things into your own hands. His way is better.

Father, we can learn from Saul’s mistakes. Saul continually took matters into his own hands. We can see how this ended. May we not do that, Lord. May we take our matters to You in prayer. May we think about You and put our faith, hope and trust in You. May we handle things with You and not handle things on our own. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

1 Samuel 30:8 - Inquire of the Lord when you don't know what to do

“So David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?’ And He answered him, ‘Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.’”

1 Samuel 30:8

The Amelekites had burned Ziklag with fire and all the wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive. The men grieved deeply and even thought of stoning David. David took His grief to the Lord. He also “strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). After David was strengthened in the Lord, he asked God if he should pursue the Amelekites and overtake them. God answered him saying “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all” (1 Samuel 30:8). “David recovered all that the Amelekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives. And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all” (1 Samuel 30:18-19). Thank God David “strengthened himself in the Lord his God” when he was grieved. If he hadn’t, he would have been in a state of despair. He probably would not have inquired of the Lord in what he should do. It is so important that we strengthen ourselves in the Lord our God. We should do this each and every day during the good times and the bad. We should also inquire of the Lord in what He wants us to do. Then we should be obedient and follow through with His direction. God took a personal tragedy that David experienced and turned it into a personal blessing. He can use the personal tragedies in our lives and turn them into personal blessings too.

Father, we thank you that when David experienced a personal tragedy you turned it into a victorious personal blessing in his life as well as the others, even those that thought to stone him. When we are faced with grief may we turn to You. May we strengthen ourselves in the Lord our God. May we not wallow in despair. May we inquire of You in what we should do and may You give us guidance. May we obey Your call and follow through with Your direction. Take each and every personal tragedy that we experience and turn it into a victorious personal blessing in our lives and those around us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. 

1 Samuel 30:6 - Strengthen yourself in the Lord

“Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

1 Samuel 30:6

The Amelekites invaded Ziklag and burned it with fire. They took captive the women and those that were there. They didn’t kill anyone, but took them away. When David and his men came to the city they saw that the city had been burned with fire. They also realized that their wives, sons, and daughters had been taken captive. David and those that were with him lifted up their voices and wept. They cried till they had no more tears left. David’s two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail, had been taken captive. This pained David. These people were deeply grieved. And those that were with David spoke of stoning him. But David “strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). When David was grieved and all the people had turned against him he went to the Lord his God. He strengthened himself in the Lord when no encouragement came from others. What a good example this is to us. We can go to the Lord ourselves and be strengthened by Him. We shouldn’t always need and crave the encouragement that from others. Yes, it is nice to be encouraged by our Christian brothers and sisters in the Lord. Their love lifts us up. But it is wisdom to rely on the Lord for this encouragement. This shows maturity. And His love for us can fill us till we overflow.

Father, thank You for Your love. Thank You that we can come to you any time day or night. You are always there. When we need strengthened in the Lord we should come to You. You will fill us with Your love and we will be strengthened by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You Lord. In David’s case the people had turned against him. He was satisfied for he had You. You were enough for him. He cried out to You and You strengthened him in the Lord. Father, may we cry out to You. May You be enough for us. May our satisfaction come from our relationship with You. May the bond between You, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and ourselves be strong. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

1 Samuel 30:1 - God will make a way when there seems to be no way

“Now it happened when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire.”

1 Samuel 30:1

Just because you are blessed and God has anointed you does not exempt you from troubles and hardship. Yet the Lord is at work even through these problems and trials. He just wants us to trust Him even during these trying times. John 16:33 says “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.” Romans 5:3-5 says “We can rejoice too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” Be encouraged today. God loves you. He is working even through your problems, struggles, and difficulties. He is with you helping you endure and is strengthening your character. He is making you more like His Son, Christ-like. Your confident expectation of salvation is growing. Psalm 91:15 says “I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.” He will use your situation for good. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” Let’s do our best and put our all into trusting Him concerning our situations. Proverbs 3:5 encourages us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.”

Father, sometimes we don’t know why we are going through what has come our way. But we know that trying times are spiritually good for us. They help us to endure. And endurance strengthens our character and makes us more like Christ. Our confidence in our salvation also grows. We rejoice.  You love us and You have filled our hearts with Your love. We are so grateful and thankful for that. Be with us through our troubles and hardship, Lord. Rescue and honor us. Use our trials for good in our lives. With all our hearts, Father, we put our trust in You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

1 Samuel 28:7 - Stay away from mediums

Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”

1 Samuel 28:7

Saul was a mess spiritually. He saw the army of the Philistines was afraid that he would be defeated by them. Samuel, the prophet that had been used by God to speak to Saul, had died. Saul didn’t know what to do. He inquired of the Lord in what to do, but the Lord did not answer him. God didn’t have Urim or one of the prophets give him a word either. Nor did God give Saul a dream to help him. Then Saul decided that he wanted to seek a woman that was a medium. This was in defiance to the will of God. Saul knew this but he went ahead and disguised himself and went to her. The woman didn’t want to help him as Saul had cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. The medium didn’t want Saul to lay a snare for her life or cause her to die. Saul swore to her, using the Lord’s name, saying “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing” (1 Samuel 28:10). Saul wanted her to call up Samuel from the dead. Samuel’s spirit ascended out of the earth. “When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, ‘Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!’” (1 Samuel 28:12). Saul told her not to be afraid. When Saul realized that it was Samuel, he bowed down and put his face to the ground. Samuel was not happy that Saul had disturbed him by bringing him up. Saul told Samuel that God had departed from him and does not answer him anymore, neither by dreams or by the prophets. This is why Saul contacted him from the dead. Then Samuel told Saul, “So why do you ask me, seeing the Lord has departed from you and has become your enemy? And the Lord has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 28:15-19). Saul received a word, but not one that he liked. God warns us to stay away from mediums. We are to have nothing to do with them. If we want to have a word that guides us, we should go to His Word.

Father, we come to You today and we praise Your holy name. Lord, may we avoid evil and all those that practice it. May we not have anything to do with spiritists, mediums, wizards, palm readers, witches, etc. May we come to You for guidance and go to Your Word. Speak to us today and guide and direct our steps. Encourage us by Your Word. Your Word is life. It completes us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.   

1 Samuel 26:21 - We must repent from our sins not just acknowledge that it's sin

“Then Saul said, ‘I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.”

1 Samuel 26:21

David spared Saul’s life a second time. The Lord had delivered Saul into David’s hands, but David would not stretch out his hand against God’s anointed. When Saul realized that David had spared his life he knew he had acted like a fool. He knew he had erred exceedingly. He knew he had sinned. Saul may have made the decision at that moment to not harm David, but it was a momentary feeling. His heart was still wrong and he still harbored ill-willed feelings for David. The thing is it is one thing to know that you have acted foolishly, erred exceedingly, and sinned and it is another thing to repent of the foolishness and the error and to get your heart right with God. Saul did the first, but not the latter. God calls us to do both.

Father, it is one thing to know that we have acted foolishly, erred exceedingly, and sinned and it is another thing to repent of the foolishness and the error and to get our heart right with You. Help us to do both when we err. For nothing is more important than being right with You. It matters in this life as well as for all eternity. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

1 Samuel 25:35 - God takes vengeance - He rewards and blesses the peacemakers

“So David received from her hand what she had brought him and said to her, ‘Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person.”

1 Samuel 25:35

Abigail was used as a peacemaker in the life of David. Her quick action and words made a difference. David accepted Abigail’s peace offering and blessed her. He even had respect for her as a person. He entrusted Abigail’s scoundrel of a husband, Nabal, to the Lord instead of taking action against him himself. When Abigail went home she found Nabal hosting a huge banquet. He was drunk and high in spirits. She didn’t tell Nabal anything that she had done or what had happened until morning. When he was sober she told him the whole story. His heart “died within him, and he became like a stone” (1 Samuel 25:37). He died ten days later. David rejoiced that God had kept him from taking matters into his own hand and doing evil. He was happy that God Himself repaid the evil done to him. David sent messengers to propose marriage to Abigail. She humbled herself, bowed to the ground, and said “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord” (1 Samuel 25:41). She went with the messengers of David, and became his wife. We can learn three things from today’s story. 1). We should not sin by repaying evil for evil, 2). We should entrust God to take vengeance on our adversaries, and 3). God Himself will bless the lives of peacemakers and reward them richly.

Father, we thank You for being our Lord and Savior. We thank You that You see everything that happens to us. May we not sin by doing evil. We want to please You. May we not retaliate when wronged. May we not repay evil for evil. May we entrust ourselves and them to You. Vengeance is Yours. You will repay. May we be peacemakers, servants, children of God. May we be blessed richly for our obedience. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

1 Samuel 25:24 - Blessed are the peacemakers

“For indeed, as the Lord God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal.”

1 Samuel 25:24

Nabal was a very rich man. He was “harsh and evil in his doings” (1 Samuel 25:3). His wife’s name was Abigail. She was beautiful and had a gift of good understanding. David sent some men to Carmel to greet Nabal. These men were bringing peaceful greetings, kind words, blessings. Nabal rejected them. He even went so far as to say “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?” (1 Samuel 25:10-11). So David’s men went to David and told them what Nabal had said. David was ready to retaliate. Nabal’s wife, Abigail, was informed on what her husband did. She knew that David would not be pleased. She quickly went into action. She “took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted  grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys” (1 Samuel 25:18). She didn’t tell her husband what she was doing. She rode the donkey and met with David and his men. David was not happy. He felt he was slighted. He was going to kill every male of all who belonged to Nabal. Abigail saw David, and when she saw him she “dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground” (1 Samuel 25:23). She “fell at his feet and said: ‘On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. Please let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, since the Lord has help you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the Lord will certainly make for my lord and enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is not found in you throughout your days. Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God: and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant’” (1 Samuel 25:24-31). David was touched by the sincerity and humbleness of Abigail. David blessed her. He acknowledged to her that God had sent her to meet him. He told her that her advice was blessed and that she herself was blessed. Because of her quick actions it kept him from turning to bloodshed and from avenging himself with his own hand. He knew her wise actions were not just from her but also from the Lord. Our sovereign Lord works in many ways. Using peacemakers is one of the ways that He works. He still uses them today. Matthew 5:9 says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Decide today to be like Abigail. Be a peacemaker. Keep your eyes fixed on God. Ask Him for wisdom that comes from above and also for good understanding. Use your hands and words for good. You will make a difference is the lives of those around you and God will also bless you for it. 

Father, Your Word says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” May we be peacemakers in this day and age. May our eyes be fixed upon You. Give us wisdom that comes from above as well as good understanding. May we use our hands and words for good. We want to make a difference in the lives of those around us. We want to be called “sons of God.” In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

1 Samuel 25:21 - Don't quit! You will reap a harvest if you don't give up!

“Now David had said, ‘Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good.’”

1 Samuel 25:21

Once in a while we wonder whether it benefits us at all to do good things all the time. In David’s case, he felt that he was repaid evil for the good that he had done. This discouraged him. God’s Word can encourage us today. Galatians 6:9 tells us “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” The Message Bible says “So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit.” Galatians 6:10 goes on to instruct us “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” The Message Bible words it “Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.” What mighty and powerful words to apply to our everyday life.

Father, thank You for the encouragement You have given us today. Thank You for reminding us that we should continually be going about doing good. Sometimes we can wonder if the good we do is having any impact on the lives of those around us or not. Thank You for Your promise that we will reap and harvest a good crop if we do not lose heart. May we not grow weary, get fatigued, give up, or quit. May we make the most of every opportunity to do good to all, especially those that are of the household of faith and the people closest to us in the community of faith. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

1 Samuel 25:1 We should make our lives count

“Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him.”

1 Samuel 25:1

Saul may have been the Israelites king, but the Israelites looked to Samuel as their spiritual leader. This is one reason why the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him. With Samuel no longer with them, Israel would be without a spiritual leader until David was made king. People today also look to spiritual leaders for wisdom, love, and a fresh word from the throne room of God. When a spiritual leader goes on to be with the Lord, they often leave spiritual footprints on the hearts of the people. Their funerals are filled to capacity and people often share personal testimonies of how the deceased blessed and impacted their lives. None of us know how long we are going to live on earth. We should make our lives count. God wants to raise us up to be spiritual leaders. He wants us to serve Him and others with His love. He wants us to spend time with Him each day so that our words are filled with wisdom, life. He wants us to share Christ and the revelations that He gives us with others. People in our day and age need to hear truths from God and His Words too. May we, His people, leave spiritual footprints on the hearts of those all around us.

    

Father, none of us knows how long we are going to live. We want our lives to mean something. We want them to make a difference in the lives of those around us. We want them to see Jesus and His love in us towards them. Samuel was a spiritual leader to the Israelites. May we be spiritual leaders in this day and age. We want to leave spiritual footprints on the hearts of the people You have given us to love. We want to bless and impact their lives for the gospel. Use us Lord.  We are Yours. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

1 Samuel 24:6 - Let God be our defender and deliverer

“And he said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.’”

1 Samuel 24:6

David was in the recesses of a cave in the Wilderness of En Gedi. Saul took 3,000 chosen men and went to seek David. Saul went to attend to his needs in a cave that was by the road. David was given a word that God was going to deliver his enemy into his hand. He was also instructed that he could do to him as it seemed good to him by this man. David saw Saul and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. David told his men “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” David restrained his men and wouldn’t let them harm Saul. David left the cave and then called out to Saul. He told him “Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.” David knew that God’s hand of blessing had left Saul. He knew that he was going to be king of Israel some time in the future. Yet because God had at one time anointed Saul, David refused to lay a hand on him. David honored the Lord by sparing Saul’s life. He trusted the Lord to bring his kingship to pass. He wasn’t about to take matters into his own hand. David wasn’t going to usurp God’s place in this matter. If Saul needed to be removed as king to make a way for David, then God would have to do it. Even being urged to kill Saul, David was not going to strike the Lord’s anointed. We can learn so much from David. We can leave things in the Lord’s hand. We can trust the Lord to bring His will to pass in our lives and in the lives of others. We don’t have to interfere or play God. This means that we don’t have to run ahead of him and take matters into our own hand. We don’t have to usurp God’s place in the matter. We should give Him the respect that He deserves. He is Lord. We can trust Him.

Father, we come to You today and thank You for being our Lord. Forgive us for all the times we have taken matters into our own hands instead of waiting on You to bring Your will to pass. Help us to be patient and to wait for Your hand to move in our lives and the lives of others. May we not run ahead of You any longer and take matters into our own hand. May we not usurp Your place of honor. May we give You the respect that You deserve. You are Lord and we can trust You and your plans for our lives. When You do the work, when You take care of things, then it is done right. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 23:27 - God can use all things to save and rescue us

“But a messenger came to Saul, saying, ‘Hurry and come, for the Philistines have invaded the land.’”

1 Samuel 23:27

Saul was still hunting David down and trying to take his life. David was in the Wilderness of Moan. Saul went to one side of the mountain. David and his men were on the other side of the mountain trying to get away from him. Saul and his men began to encircle around David to trap him. Just at that time a messenger came to Saul. They told Saul that the Philistines had invaded the land. This made Saul fearful so he stopped trying to pursue David as soon as he heard this report. He and his men turned and left. The Philistines were the primary enemies of God’s people at this point of history. In God’s sovereignty, God used the Philistines to rescue His servant David. He can do the same for us in this day and age too. He can use those that walk in darkness and/or those that are His enemies to save and rescue us and provide us with a way of escape. He is God and He can use all things. Thank God for His sovereignty, love and power. We are so blessed!

Father, we thank You for Your sovereignty. We thank You that You can use all sorts of people to rescue and help Your people, even those that walk in darkness and/or are Your enemies. You are a good God and You have our best interests at heart. Thank You, Lord, for everything. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 23:21 - Don't be impressed by mere words

“And Saul said, ‘Blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion on me.’”

1 Samuel 23:21

Saul had a hard and vindictive heart. He was walking apart from God. He was trying to kill David. Some Ziphites went to Saul and told him the specific spot where David was hiding. Saul replied to them “Blessed are you of the Lord, for you have compassion on me.” Can you believe he said that? “Blessed are you of the Lord.” This shows us that anyone can use religious words and try to appear super spiritual. God is not impressed with lip service. He knows their hearts. Since He isn’t impressed, neither should we be. He isn’t fooled. We shouldn’t be fooled either. Jesus said that by our fruits people would be able to see if we are “real” or “genuine” in the Lord or not. Don’t just listen to people’s words. Look at their hearts and what makes them tick. Look at the type of fruit that is coming from their lives. This shows the trueness of whether they are genuinely “real” or not.

Father, we see from the life of Saul that anyone can use religious words and try to come across as being super spiritual. We know that You are not impressed with lip service. May we not be impressed with lip service either. You are not impressed by people that are words but not heart. May we not be impressed by people that are words but not heart either. You can’t be fooled. May we not be fooled either. Reveal to us their fruits. Show us know whether they are genuinely “real” or not. May we not be deceived. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.  

1 Samuel 23:16 - Godly friends strengthen our hand in God

“Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.”

1 Samuel 23:16

David lived at various hideouts as Saul was looking for him day after day. God’s call was upon David and God never allowed Saul to find him. David once went into the mountains in the Wilderness of Ziph in the forest to hide. David’s beloved friend, Jonathan, “went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God” (1 Samuel 23:16). We all need friends who will “strengthen our hands in God.” We need their heartfelt support. Their encouragement and love build us up in the faith and strengthens us in the good times as well as the hard times. God does not want us go through our lives alone. We are gifts to each other.

Father, David had Saul that was after his life. We have an enemy as well. Your Word says that the thief (Satan) comes to rob, steal, kill and destroy. Your call was upon David and You never allowed Saul to find him. May Your call be upon us as well. Put a shield of protection around us and may our enemy not be able to get to us either. David had to go from hideout after hideout to be safe. May we safely abide in the secret place of the Most High. David had a beloved friend that “strengthened his hand in God.” Give us beloved friends that will strengthen our hands in God too. And, Father, we ask that You help us to be that kind of friend to others too. We thank You for hearing our prayers and for answering them. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.  

1 Samuel 22:18 - We will receive a reward for doing good either here on earth or in heaven

“And the king said to Doeg, ‘You turn and kill the priests!’ So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priests, and killed on that day eighty-five men who wore a linen ephod.”

1 Samuel 22:18

God never hides the truth from us. There can be a high price to pay for doing what is right. The good thing is that He promises to reward us for doing what is good and right, even if that reward comes to us in heaven. We can’t understand or comprehend why Saul would have his own priests killed. Saul thought that the priests, his son Jonathan, and David were conspiring against him. Doeg had witnessed Abimelech, the high priest, talking to David. He had seen him give David food and Goliath’s sword. He told Saul about this. This angered Saul and he took his anger out on all of the priests. Saul’s actions show how far he had rebelled and strayed from the Lord. Unfortunately the priests had to pay for Saul’s rebellious heart. We can suffer from others when all we are doing what is good too. They misconstrue what we have done as they don’t understand our purity of actions or our motives. They get angered and strike out, often with the tongue. Just be encouraged. Ephesians 6:8 says that we can know “that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord.” He is who we serve and live for. The New Living Translation says “Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do.” Put your faith and trust in Him. Our reward will surely come. We are guaranteed it.

Father, we come to You this day. We don’t always understand why people do the things they do when we were only trying to do good. Thank You for reminding us that it is You that we serve and live for. You are who we are trying to please. And Your Word promises that You will reward each one of us for the good that we do. “Each one of us” includes me. You know our hearts and understand our purity and motives. We are so grateful and thankful for that. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 22:2 - God changes us and makes us mighty men & women of God

“And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred en with him.”

1 Samuel 22:2

When God put together David’s first army it consisted of the distressed, the debtors, and the discontented. They were not the strongest and mightiest of men when they began to be under him, but with David’s leadership some grew up to be mighty men of God. Jashobeam “once used his spear to kill eight hundred enemy warriors in a single battle” (2 Samuel 23:8). Then there was Eleazer who stood with David “against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the Lord gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder” (2 Samuel 23:9-10). And let’s not forget Shammah who one time when the Philistines had “gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, but Shammah held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory” (2 Samuel 23:11-12). This reminds me of some of us Christians. When we started out in our walk with Christ we may have had low self-esteems, were heartbroken and in need of healing deep down in our souls, bound by so many things, distressed, discontented, unsatisfied and unhappy with our lives. We may have had worldly idols and put other things before God as we didn’t know Him yet. But then by His mercy and grace He found us. He made us His own. He caused us to see ourselves through His eyes and not the world’s. He healed our broken hearts, He delivered and set us free from so many things. He made us content, satisfied, and happy with our lives. He gave us a new life, a new heart, a new start and beginning. Old things had passed away, all things had become new. We were born again. And then He grew us up and by His leadership He made us mighty men and women of the faith, all to the glory of Him. He did not leave us where we started. He loved us enough to transform us from the inside out, giving us His Holy Spirit to dwell within. We have so much to be grateful for.

Father, we thank You for Your mercy and grace. We thank You for making us Your own. You did not leave us in the state we were in when we found You. You gave us Your Holy Spirit and the power of Your love changed us from the inside out. We give You all the praise for this, all the glory, and all the honor. You raised up Joshobeam, Eleazer, and Shammah and made them mighty men of God. Lord, raise us up in the day and age so that we can be mighty men and women of the faith too. We want to make a difference in this world and we know that the difference is found in You. May we share Christ with a lost and dying world. You loved us while we were yet sinners. You love others while they are yet sinners too. May we not forget this but reach out to them with Your love. And may the power of Your love be effective and reach them, transforming their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

1 Samuel 22:8 - Bring those that are astray back to You

“All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse; and there is not one of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as it is this day.”

1 Samuel 22:8

Saul somehow knew that Jonathan had made a covenant with David. He felt betrayed by his own son and was not happy. Saul was living outside of the will of God. God’s hand of blessing was upon David. His hand of blessing had left Saul. When we turn from the Lord and start walking without Him, life becomes “all about us.” And a self-focused life plants the seeds of its own destruction. My heart today goes out to the people that once walked with God and have backslidden and are living apart from Him. We are blessed, but they are living outside of the will of God. God’s hand of blessing is no longer with them. Their lives are “all about them.” They are focused only on themselves and they have planted seeds to their own destruction. My hearts desire is that they be pulled up out of the muck and the mire of the world. My desire is that they not be deceived any longer. My desire is that they repent and give their lives back over to Him. Philippians 4:4-7 says “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” God wants us to continue to stay strong in Him and to rejoice in Him always. God wants us to have His peace inside of us even when we think of those that have gone astray. He wants us to remain in an environment of His peace. He wants us to have a sound mind. He wants us to be gentle. Gentleness shows His love. Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Spirit. It can be used to draw others to Christ. He doesn’t want us to worry or to fret. Prayer is the antidote for worry. There are different aspects to prayer. One is prayer, a worshipful feeling and attitude of the heart that surrenders to Him; supplication, a need; and requests, the specific concern. Thanksgiving showers our prayers with gratefulness and gratitude for and to Him. Because of these three things: prayer, supplication, and requests, the peace of God brings us power to have faith and to endure, to hold onto hope and to see the victory come. This supernatural peace calms us. His peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Jesus loves His sheep. When one sheep wandered away, the Shepherd left the 99 and went in search of that one. Today we are going to be praying for that “one.” We are going to be praying for all the “one’s.” We want the angels in heaven to rejoice. We want to rejoice with them.

Father, we come to You and pray for every person that had at one time knew about You and they have since then backslidden and started walking apart from You. They are self-focused and life is “all about them.” Your hand of blessing has left them as they are continually sowing seeds of destruction. Father, we know that You love them. You made them. May You, our Good Shepherd, go in search of those that have wondered away. Pull them up out of the muck and mire of the world. May they be delivered and not be deceived any longer. Reveal Yourself to them once again. May they repent and turn from their wicked ways and follow after You with their whole hearts. May the angels in heaven rejoice and may we rejoice with them. We are not asking for money. We are not asking for things. We are asking for hearts that have turned from You to be brought back to You. This is our hearts desire. May they not resist what the Holy Spirit is trying to do in their lives. May they come to the point of wholehearted surrender.Help us to continue to rejoice in You. Help our gentleness to be known to all men. Your Word says that the Lord is at hand. May we not be anxious or  worrisome. We pray in agreement today. We offer You supplications today. With thanksgiving we have let our requests be known to You. We thank You that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Bring these things to pass. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church